Chronic Style

A blog about living stylishly with a few chronic illnesses.

As someone who has run many marathons and watched both friends and family at the finish line of the Boston Marathon on several occasions, I was in complete shock after viewing the disastrous occurrences on Monday. I was actually at the gym when it happened — my lunch hour out here on the west coast of the US — and immediately tried to contact all of my friends who were running or attending in support.

Boston is my sports town. It’s where the most inspiring and influential rowing experiences of my life occurred. There was nothing like running along the Charles a few days before a race to shake the nerves off. And watching my brother finish the Boston Marathon years ago — one of his hardest for sure — I can’t help but remember how proud everyone was and how excited they were to find their loved ones at that very finish line.

One of my dearest friends, Jessica Shambora, wrote an incredible piece about her experience running the race this year. “On race day we come out and share our love of running with each other and with the world. It’s an awesome thing to behold. After Monday, I’m more convinced than ever that we should continue, and with even greater fervor.” Check out Jess’ piece on Fortune’s blog here.

My love to Boston and all of those who were affected by this tragedy. My heart is with you.

(Image from Bloomberg.com)

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I’ll admit it, I’m as caught up in March Madness as most of the US is right now. Yet every time I watch that Kevin Ware injury* I can’t help but wonder how a lot of these men and women will be feeling when they’re an old lady like me (in their early thirties).

I chose the path of college sports as much as it chose me, yet as a four-year, Division I, NCAA college athlete myself, I sometimes still can’t pick things up or even change the radio dial with my right arm due to rotator cuff pain. Now I don’t expect anything in return from my alma mater — I’d do it all over again even knowing what I know now — but I’m able to find care for myself while a lot of ex-athletes cannot.

The New York Times‘ Bill Pennington wrote a really great piece on the vulnerability of college athletes even when they’re injured mid-sport. It seems like even Congress is aware of what a problem this is — maybe it will be the one thing they agree about in 2013.

*Warning: If you aren’t aware of what I’m speaking of, you may not want to watch — it is by far the most gruesome leg break I’ve ever seen.

(Image under Creative Commons license by McMorgan.)

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My fearless leader Tim Brown shared this short film (above) via his LinkedIn and Design Thinking blogs last week and I couldn’t help but share as well. The Cleveland Clinic created the film as a way to share how top of mind empathy and patient care are as a part of their overall approach to healthcare. I walk around my life in constant wonder of what other folks are going through — it’s the reason I won’t even honk my horn unless someone is in great danger — and I thought this was an incredible way of illustrating that.

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